This article is from page 6 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
NORTH Clare’s Naomi O’Connell has reinforced her position as the most promising young singer in Ire- land, claiming first place and a bur- sary for €10,000 at the inaugural Count John McCormack competition at the Feis Ceoil over the weekend. Naomi is a former student of Mary
Immaculate Secondary School in Lisdoonvarna and soloist with the Lismorahaun Singers.
She won the award after completing a 20-minute programme, including songs in three different languages, and an interview in front a panel of judges.
“When I was given the award, I started crying. I know it is one of
those really corny things to go and do, but I couldn’t help it. My mother was here with me and my two teach- ers. It was just so happy,” said Nao- rape
Aside from the actual singing, each candidate was judged on their re- sponses to a series of judges’ ques- tions.
“They asked me about myself and
what I have done. I told them about winning the Veronica Dunne com- petition and what I had done with the prize money for that,’ she con- tinued.
“It was good that I was able to show them that I would be using the bur- sary for continuing my studies and that I wouldn’t be going out buying myself a car. They asked me where I saw myself in five years and I told them that, at that stage, I would like to have studied in France and in Italy and spent a year in America.
“I need to find the best teachers to continue my studies with. I have been so lucky with my teachers so far, with Archie down in Clare and Mary in Dublin.”
The John McCormack Bursary is sponsored by the [AWS Group and is run as part of the Feis Ceoil.
“People who put money into the arts like this are fantastic. We Just wouldn’t be able to do this without Wetoene
“T really couldn’t believe it, I’m over the moon. I felt really happy when I had finished singing. There was one piece which was a real Everest to sing, but it went so well,” she said.
“One of the judges told me after- ward that she knew how hard it was to sing that piece and I had sung it re- ally well. It was a great compliment,
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she said ‘I stopped the whole room’.